Mare Family Down Under

Tas' trip to Korea

Lots of Soju on New Years Eve - had to keep warm somehow!!






Notice the iced stream in the background

Tas and Deb arrive in Seoul






What a team, it was an awesome experience!

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 4:28 am 0 comments

Last Christmas at Greenlake.

Christmas 2007 at Greenlake. Kaylin , Ethan and Gramps guarding the Christmas tree!



South African friends spent Christmas with us. Great to share our home with friends and remember those who are far away.







Kaylin and Ethan colouring in - serious concentration

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 2:36 pm 1 comments

Fishing Trip with Des (Neighbour)

I was fortunate enough to be asked to go out on a fishig trip with one of my Neighbours. The trip took us to the edge of the military training area called Shoalwater Bay. We had a great time and while the weather was not great, we still managed to catch a few good size fish. Here I am with a travelli. Below, Des with a good size mud crab.

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 2:20 pm 0 comments

Ethan Turns 3, Greenlake and Blackdown tablelands and Kaylin graduates

Ethan Turns 3. It was Great that Nian and Oupa were there to celbrate the occasion. Big sister was there to lend a helping hand and moral support as always.

Fishing at Greenlake. Oupa gives it a go. Unfortunately no barr today!

Left, Tas, Oupa and I at blackdown tableands. The blackdown mountains are about 2 hours west of Rockhampton. Pretty low rainfall over with dry scrub forest. From the plateau you can look for km's to the west over the "outback".

Kaylin graduates from Keetslee. Unfortunately dad could not majke the ceremony, but mom was there. Tas said that she looked a little shell shocked, "a deer in headlights," was the term I thinl she used. Next year SCHOOL!!!

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 4:09 am 0 comments

Sunshine coast and Home to Rocky (Greenlake)

Noosa Beach on the Sunshine Coast.

Kaylin Driving a boat. She di a realy good job and had loads of fun.

The kids playiong on some swings.












Childers. A small country town on the way to greenlake. Famous for the small crops that they grow there.


Bangalee Beach at Yeppoon. It is great there and you can drive on the beach. There are very few poeple there and the water is absolutely beautiful.

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 12:09 am 0 comments

Coffs Harbour, NSW - Byron Bay, NSW

Tas will take kisses from any animal.....
At the dolphinarium at Coffs Harbour.

Kaylin makes a new friend. Isn't she getting big so fast.






The lighthouse at Byron Bay. The most Easterly point on the Australian mainland.

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 10:08 pm 0 comments

Hunter Valley, NSW

Some photos of the Hunter Valley. This is a really great wine area of Australia. The scenery around here was absolutely beautiful.

An old building in the valley.
Below, an old "Bugger" in the valley.

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 9:38 pm 0 comments

Sydney

Sydney. All the family together along the walk past the opera house with the harbour bridge behind.













A look at the city from across the Harbour. It is quite a spectacular place to visit.













Sydney Opera house is spectacular.

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 9:15 pm 0 comments

Next Stop - Canberra. Australia's Capital

Tas, Kaylin, Ethan and Pierre. Standing in fron of Parliment House in Canberra.
Below is a picture of Parliment House. Wow. What an amaizing place to visit. The city was really easy to navigate around. Circles within Circles that laid out the grid. Anzac parade was the main parade linking Parliment house to the war memorial. You got the feeling that the past was looking over the present, to make sure that decisions they make for the future is in memory of those that made the ultimate sacrifice.







Australias coat of arms. (Emu and Kangaroo under the Southern Cross).







Australia's war museum.This was absolutly specacular. Anyone that visits Caneberra and is not touched by this place has no soul. It reminds me of the futility of war, but more about the sacrifice that perople made for the country Asutralia. This gives you a sense of pide in the country, wether you are born here or choose to live here. It is amaizing. Looking down from the war museum alang anzac parade towards parliment house.


























Our campsite at Queenbean. Right next to a small lake.

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 6:53 pm 0 comments

Blue Mountains with Nian, Oupa and Gramps

Well, Nian and Oupa finally arrived to a very cold Sydney. Fortunately Allen (Gramps) fetched them from the airport and they met us at the Blue Mountains. This gave us time to set up the campsite and make things as comfortable as possible for when they arrived.
The first night was terrible. It was cold, I mean "Brass balls" cold. Needless to say they were terribly jet lagged and then added to that cold and sleep deprived. Welcome to Aus!!! Not the best arrival present.
Anyway, it was great to finally see them again after so many months.



Ethan at a stream in the blue mountains.

Nian and Kaylin became great fiends. I think "Old Maid" had something to do with it.

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 9:22 am 0 comments

Dubbo Zoo - Sept Holidays

Dubbo Zoo outlook. Looking over the Africa enclosure at Dubbo zoo in NSW. The zoo has an amaizing layout. The enclosures are a good size and you get the feeling that the animals actualy have a sense of "freedom".
For the kids its great. You get "up close and personal" with most of the animals.


Below you can see Kaylin and Ethan feeding a Tortoise.

To the left and above is the giraffe enclosure. They came really close and actually took grass out of the hands of people standing on the bank. There are no fences around most of the enclosures. A high bank and single strand electric fence is all that separates you from the animals.

It was a great day at the zoo. After spending a full day in the car to get there, we walked the 6km track with the kids and loved every minute. Needless to say the kids slept well that night.

Labels: Dubbo Zoo

posted by Mare Family Down Under @ 2:21 pm 0 comments